Changes in the Partners in Injury Reduction Program

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By Barbara Semeniuk

Maybe I should be riding a great white horse screaming, “ The changes are coming! The changes are coming!” as I ride.  Anyways, this is not Philadelphia, but Edmonton.
 Some of you may be wondering what the Partners in Injury Reduction Program is anyways.  This program offers premium rate discounts to employers who have successfully implemented health, safety, and disability management programs and have achieved the Certificate of Recognition (COR) standards set by Alberta Human Resources and Employment and their certifying partners.  The program is successful as it has contributed to a reduction in the number of injuries and claims costs associated with injuries through the combined efforts of employers, Alberta Human Resources and Employment, certifying partners and the WCB.

 The changes are effective the 2005 PIR program year. First year Certificate of Recognition (COR) holders will receive a minimum 10% rebate for the first year of the program.  The reasoning behind this course of action is to increase the financial carrot so employers will bite and participate more in the program.  It is hoped that offering a 10% instead of a 5% rebate of premiums paid to first-time COR holders, as a minimum return on investment, will increase employer commitment and participation in the program.
 The PIR rebate will be paid in the year that the COR is achieved.  Rebates are currently paid out in May of the following year that the Company achieved their COR.  The payment date will be amended for first time COR holders to the date that notice is received that they have obtained their COR. This means that payment will be received sooner, that offsets their initial investment in safety.
 
Employers can still qualify for up to 20% in a PIR refund. The company can earn a 10% rebate for achieving COR but are also eligible for two other measures in PIR: Improving  Your Performance and Maintaining Industry Leadership. Achieving on these measures can mean that a Company can receive up to 20% in the form of a PIR refund.
 What happens after the first year…when I receive my 10% discount?  After the first year, in year two of the program, the incentive for maintaining COR reverts to a 5% discount, but participants can still earn up to a maximum rebate of 20% for industry leadership or improved performance.
 
Do I have to register in the year before I want to participate in the program and/or receive my COR?
  No, once employers achieve their COR, they become eligible  for a rebate in the year they earned it.  They must still register in PIR, but the registration is effective at the time of earning a COR.
 These changes are not widely known.  The are effective for the 2005 PIR program year.  Hopefully, they will increase employer participation in a program that is gaining notice across North America and the world…..because it works….it saves lives…the best benefit of all!
Barbara Semeniuk is President of Purcell Enterprises Ltd. a consulting company that strives to deliver “more' to the client and push the envelope always.  WSN